Moral Character

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.
~Margaret Chase Smith

New Credit Card Law Takes Effect

The new credit card legislation that goes into effect today was designed to help consumers from unscrupulous business practices on the part of banks. And while the new regulations offer some improvement for consumers, as usual, it falls short of truly offering consumer protection.

One big shortfall of the new legislation: there is no interest cap. Legislators claim this was a compromise. My question is, a compromise with whom? Because banks base the interest rates on the prime rate PLUS a percentage, I would like to know why that number couldn't be capped? I suspect the compromise had to be with banks or the lobbyists. Who else could oppose a cap?

If the legislators themselves are in opposition to protecting American consumers against rate gouging, I suggest they get out of office, as it is clear they are not there on our behalf. In my opinion, there is no reason any company should be able to charge 25%, 26%, and 27% interest on consumer credit, but they do. This is tantamount to loan-sharking. And often, it's college-age kids or those with poor credit that get raped with these kinds of rates. Any consumer being charged these kinds of outrageous rates has no hope of ever paying off the balance as it continues to accrue day by day.

Banks can also start charging annual fees or non-usage fees if they want. By allowing these types of loopholes, the law simply becomes a shell game for the banks. They will just find new ways to stick it to the consumer. Long before the legislation was enacted they were working on strategies to get around the law. The economic collapse of our country can be placed squarely on the shoulders of big banks.

Yes, there are positives to the legislation. For example, starting today if you transfer a balance at a lower, introductory rate but you already have an existing balance on your account only the minimum payment will automatically be applied to the balance with the lower rate. In addition, any amount over the minimum payment will be applied to the balance with the higher interest rate. This is good news for consumers.

In the past, if you had a balance on your credit card and transferred an additional balance over to your account at a lower rate, all payments would pay down the lower rate first while the balance with the higher rate would continue to compound.

Another piece of the legislation that works in the consumers' favor is that banks can no longer raise rates within the first year the account is opened. They also cannot raise rates arbitrarily on an account just because you missed or were late on a payment on another.

Much like during and after the Depression, I think this recession is going to have lasting repercussions for big banks. Their own irresponsible, greedy, and in some case malicious behavior is going to come back to bite them. It may take some years before consumers are financially in a place for it to happen, but once consumers can get on their feet the backlash will be swift and severe.

Even after the huge taxpayer (yes, big banks, don't forget that) bailout, they went right back to business as usual, continuing to payout huge bonuses, raise rates on consumers arbitrarily, and reduce credit lines for good customers who had never been late on their payments. Essentially, they spit in the eye of every American taxpayer.

Banks that make an effort to treat their customers fairly and with respect will be the ones that survive. Big banks that have forgotten that without customers they have nothing will be the first to go. And they will have no-one to blame but themselves. When they fail, I think there will be a lot of smug taxpayers watching them go down in flames with smirks on their faces.

Enough About Tiger Already!

I can't believe it but the media is still talking about Tiger and picking apart his "apology" trying to analyze whether or not he's sincere. Again, let me say for the record, NO-ONE CARES. The public doesn't care. In fact, everyone I know groans whenever his name is mentioned. Enough already! Want to make sure he is "cured"? I hear castration works pretty well. At least that's what they did back in the day before "sex addiction" clinics existed. If the media doesn't put an end to this constant drivel and ridiculous coverage, the general population will experience learned aversion to his name. I think it's starting already. Now, whenever I hear his name I feel nauseous. I dunno. Maybe that's what they're going for...

Aggressive Drivers

Every morning as I drive to work, I’m reminded of just how harried our lives are nowadays. I try to allow myself extra drive time so I don’t feel the need to rush. I make a conscious effort not to drive aggressively and be courteous to others on the road. But I know how easy it is to get caught up in the aggressive culture of commuting.

You may be wondering who cares? When I am driving alone, in the off chance other drivers do something to aggravate me, it doesn’t really matter if I mutter something less than ‘G-rated’…but what about when the kids are in the car?

Are you an aggressive driver? Do you let other peoples’ rude on-road driving affect the way you drive? Do you respond aggressively or verbally? If so, keep in mind that your kids are ever mindful of your behavior. If your kids regularly see you respond in anger to a driver that inadvertently cut you off, or you pretend not to see someone desperately trying to merge, what lesson are you teaching your kids?

My kids are older. Three of four are already driving. I fully believe that our actions speak louder than words. By being a courteous driver at all times, I hope that my children will do the same when they are on the road. Occasionally, I will slip and get annoyed with other drivers, but I make a conscious effort not to respond in kind by behaving aggressively or irresponsibly. I hope you’ll do the same. This is a lesson I hope my children and yours remember every time they get behind the wheel of a car.

TIGER WOODS BREAKS HIS SILENCE

Listen up, people. Tiger Woods apologizing to the public for infidelity is NOT news. In fact, I find the attention the media has given his family's very personal crisis to be disgraceful and voyeuristic. I interact with people from all walks of life on a daily basis and from a completely unscientific standpoint can attest to the fact that the average person doesn't feel the need to know who Tiger is having sex with or why. In fact, I think most people could care less about Tiger. Instead, their sympathies lie with his wife who has been forced to live out this very private, painful situation in the media.

For those who are insulted by his refusal to answer questions when he "apologizes to the public", get over it. He doesn't owe anyone but his family an apology. It's not my business, it's not your business, and it's not the media's business who, what, where, when, or why this happened. It's a personal matter between a husband and wife. Given the opportunity, the media would no doubt ask specifics that are no-one's business in an effort to get an outrageous sound bite. Did we ever need to know about Monica Lewinsky's affinity for cigars? I think not.

For those that have chosen to 'boycott' the so-called announcement, how ridiculous is that? Talk about cutting off your own nose to spite your face? For those that make their living on the coat-tails of the famous, who exactly are you hurting by refusing to attend? If you think you are making some grand statement about your integrity, think again. I don't mean to insult anyone. I just want our media to rethink the importance they place on 'non-issues' such as this. Stop jamming it down the viewers' throats with endless, repetitive coverage.

Seeing random psychologists talking about "the kind of father we want Tiger to be" and how he must actively participate in his therapy to heal is just plain stupid. Does Tiger care what kind of mother I am? Of course not. Does he care how well you do your job? Don't be ridiculous. Do I feel for his wife? I sure do. Do I care what Tiger does or doesn't do? Not even a little bit. Just because the world knows someone's name doesn't give us the right to pry in their personal (pardon the pun) affairs. I've got one word for you: NUNYA. It's 'nunya' business.

For those that feel the day he has chosen to make the announcement is a slap in the face to the players and sponsors of the current golf tournament, get real. I understand that golf is important to those that make their livings playing golf, for the sponsors of the tournaments, for the advertisers, and for the staff involved with the actual tournaments, but in the real world, there are so many issues that really are NEWS.

Like the devastation in Haiti, or the millions of Americans that are out of work, under-employed, uninsured, or have lost their homes. How about the fact that the government bailout went to big banks who continue to payout huge bonuses while our senior citizens and the dying cannot get a caregiver to be with them when they need it most because Medicare doesn't cover custodial care?

How about corporate big-wigs that freeze cost-of-living raises for poorly paid workers, using the bad economy as an excuse while at the same time gloating about record profits for the company and enjoying lavish vacations? They do this while their workers seek oil and food assistance and stuggle to pay their mortgages. What about the struggles our returning soldiers are facing emotionally, physically, and financially? How about the fact that soldiers are dying in wars around the world at the hands of terrorists? Or the mother of three who is being treated for cancer and is being hounded by bill collectors because she can't work?

What about the ever-increasing cost of college? In an effort to get an education that would allow them to support themselves as adults most students walk out of school with a $30,000-$100,000 piece of paper with no job offers on the table. This is NEWS, people. These are real issues. These are real people with real struggles in the real world. The fact that Tiger can't keep it in his pants is not news. Instead of sensationalizing his wife's very personal pain, how about we start bringing attention to the real issues? If I see any more coverage about an athlete that has "betrayed" their fans, I think I will throw up. Move on. Please.

The media is made up of professional journalists and those that make their living off of the pain and humiliation of public figures just because they can. I personally don't confuse the two. Sensationalism is not news. The paparazzi are not journalists. Their motivation is not to educate the public or to cover important issues. Their motivation is greed. Journalists cover the news. Let's get back to covering the news. Please?

Time is Fleeting. Spend it Wisely

Doesn’t life just seem to race by? We all know the expression, “take time to smell the roses”. My guess is that most of us never really do, which is sad. As I get older and I watch my kids grow up, I find myself wanting to spend more time enjoying life.

I find myself longing for time. There’s just never enough time; time to read a good book or take a walk in the park… time to catch tadpoles or search for salamanders under rocks…time to sit on the beach and listen to the waves lapping at the shore and seagulls squawking overhead.

Before we know it, our kids are grown and off to college. We turn around again and they are married with kids of their own. It seems the older we get, the faster time flies. …Which makes me realize just how precious our time really is.

Kids have a tendency to grow up before our eyes. Our parents and grandparents become gray and frail. Our time is consumed by work and errands, bills and worries. But the fact is we all have 24 hours in a day. It’s up to us how we choose to spend those hours.

So my suggestion is this. Step back and take a look at your schedule. Are you spending your precious time doing what you love with the people you love? My mom used to say, I don’t want my tombstone to say ‘she kept a clean house’. Life is short. Live it. Enjoy it. Spend time with the ones you love. She was a wise woman. She died young, but she spent her days with the people that mattered.

If you find that your time is consumed by things that don’t bring you joy or satisfaction, make a conscious effort to replace those activities with ones that do. Spend time with your kids at the beach or the park. Spend an afternoon in the hammock with your spouse watching the clouds float by. Stop by your grandmother’s house for a visit and a cup of tea.

Someday, you’ll be glad you did. I promise you, the dust-bunnies will reappear. The dirty dishes will multiply in the sink. The bathrooms will always need cleaning and the laundry will always be waiting for you. But time won’t wait. It will keep on marching by, thumbing its nose at you as it passes by, but only if you let it.

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.”
~Carl Sandburg

Surviving Our Nation's Economic Crisis

Times are tough. The economy is in a shambles. Job security is iffy. Costs are going up but salaries are not keeping pace. According to MSN Money, about 43% of Americans currently spend more than they earn each year. According to Kim Khan, author of “The Basics, How Does Your Debt Compare?” the average household carries approximately $8000.00 in credit card debt.

Our nation is currently operating within an expansionary fiscal policy in an effort to address the current recession. The Federal Reserve has enacted monetary policies to try and correct the nation’s economic hemorrhaging, but is it too little, too late?

If your family is like many, you are feeling the effects of the bad economy. Whether it’s a job loss, high consumer credit debt, or just increased costs overall, just about every family is under financial pressure. So what can we do to survive in these difficult financial times?

While it’s hard to separate the emotion from the logic, it’s important to step back and take a clear, objective look at your finances. If you don’t already have one, take the time to sit down and create a family budget. The experts suggest that you start by tracking three months of actual expenses to get an accurate picture of what you are really spending each month.

A great source of information is the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Services (AICCCA). Call 211 from your local calling area to locate the local CCCS office. Members of this organization have a variety of free budgeting tools, worksheets, and online calculators for anyone interested. These are great tools for working out a budget or finding out the most efficient way to pay down consumer debt. Budgeting is critical to your family’s financial health. By taking the time to sit down and document your income and expenses you can see where you can cut back.

If you are facing bankruptcy, or job loss and are struggling to pay your bills, falling behind, are unable to pay your rent or mortgage, CCCS counselors can offer free assistance. Counselors are available 24/7 and will help assess your personal situation to help you get out of debt or they will work with your creditors to help get more favorable terms. Don't just assume nothing can be done. This nationwide non-profit organization is available to help.

Some budget-cutting suggestions: Order take-out once a month instead of every Friday….or go to a free concert on the green instead of a night at the movies. There are lots of ways to save without living like paupers. Taking advantage of your local library is a great way to expose your kids to cultural and educational activities as well as a great way to save money! Did you know that you can take movies out at your local library? Why pay to rent? Or that most libraries offer free or discounted admission passes to local museums and tourist attractions?

By being mindful of our actions, we teach our children to conserve resources (e.g.: turning off lights and televisions when not in the room) and we save money at the same time. Using a little creativity to find free or low-cost activities helps your family’s bottom line while taking advantage of the many wonderful activities that are often overlooked right in our own communities.